The Monster Under the Bed by Brandon Shane is licensed under a
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The Monster Under the Bed
“Embrace your fear.”
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License
There’s a lot of posts here about how stupid it would be if he says “You’re not even human.” But why would that be stupid? If Tim is under the assumption that their two species can’t intermingle, that would be completely understandable. Keep in mind that Shadow visiting the human world is a secret, because that sort of thing is unacceptable in her world. It would make perfect sense if Tim never believed it would or could happen anyway. It wouldn’t mean he doesn’t like her.
Personally I think its because its a sad thing. That phrase would be the real life equivalent of “we need to talk.” Nothing good (usually) comes outta that phrase.
Plus its weird for Tim to care about that kinda stuff. Especially since he grew up with her and is a unique kid himself (excluding the ‘secret’ , he is a horror movie fanatic (start off telling people you like horror movies and you get weird looks and stigmatized. Trust me).
And as a person who grew up on a diverse block, I never really got the whole race/religion thing. It was no different than people with allergies or different tastes in food to me.
I had to LEARN that there was a syrtis disparity and that drag everyone down and apart.
The only reason I could think that he would say “not human,” would be if he never really saw her as an equal, and only thought of her as a pet. (Then he would think of her affections on the same level as a dog humping your leg, or a cat in heat rubbing on you.)
Which is soooooo (s/b)ad!
… but it can’t be denied that there are also other reasons and possible alternatives, for almost anything to be said.
Some people just have a supernatural ability for athlete’s-tonsils via hoof-in-mouth disease!
Gotta disagree with you.
1st, her not being human also can be thought of as her not being the same species. Outside of scifi, humans aren’t really big on inter-species mating. (Aside from sheep jokes.)
2nd, this doesn’t inherently mean he views her as just a pet or a lesser being. That’s a big leap.
3rd, He could very well strongly desire her but has worked out in his own mind that it can’t work because he would have to hide their relationship from everybody forever. Angst ridden romance novellas aside, that’s a terrible idea for a long term relationship.
Eh, like I said, it could mean anything really.
1. Humans are like any other animal, in the need for socialization aspect.
2. You’re right. He could also view her as a superior being, seeing as how her species harvest energy from his species. Then maybe he thinks she thinks he is her pet? Or theyre equals and its complicated. So many options!
3. They already hide their relationship from everyone. So its not really too big a leap to do a little hammering down of what their relationship is or its intended direction.
Its fun to speculate!
Maybe it’s because I was raised from an early age on Star Trek, but not being human has never implied not being able to intermingle. I think Tim has seen enough of Shadow over the years where it seems obvious they can intermingle (anatomically, she seems “correct”). Even if she wasn’t, they could “intermingle” in creative ways. Saying that seems quite hurtful.
I was raised on Star Trek as well! That is why this relationship does not actually bother me to write about.
Noxians are just aliens of a another sort.
We already know that Noxians and humans can interbreed. Turns out that is possible in RL with closely related species. Everybody knows about the mule, there are other examples. The limiting factor is often cultural. Once again, that sounds familiar!
Although WE know that, Shadow & Tim don’t (yet) know that Ruth is/was Noxe.
Tim may either be cautious about the chances of a hybrid pregnancy OR, as you suggest, it could be cultural/racist prejudice – which I suspect is behind Shadow’s angry reaction.
Horses and donkeys are not humans. Mules are sterile, so no they cannot interbreed to do so doesn’t mean that offspring can occur it means that the bloodline will continue through the offspring.
There are cross species creatures that are fertile, they aren’t well known. Sometimes they spawn new species. Mules were a bad example, but they were one that most people know of.
It turns out that the line between “new species”, “new subspecies”, and “race” is quite blurry.
Personally if Brandon comes out and says that magic is somehow involved I’ll be satisfied with that.
Otherwise the whole idea of a human and Noxian being able to have offspring just doesn’t make much sense.
It’s time for your parents to come in and have an inter-species relationship conversation
One would believe that his parents had raised him with a more open mentality, maybe it’s just the fear of presenting his parents with an interdimensional creature like his girlfriend
Is Tim ever going to show a form like his mother true form or shadow’s?
Hey Brandon! Will we get to see Nox get fleshed out a little bit more in the future? Alot of things haven’t been exactly elaborated on, outside the comments. Like, were do Noxian get food, clothes, and other general commodities? I understand that it’s difficult to answer these questions in the comic due to the nature of the format so don’t take this as a comment from some impatient fan. Questions I’m excited to see answered are: does Shadow and/or Midnight have some form of a job?(as young adults) If yes, what are they? How large is nox? Assuming it’s to the size and scale of earth, are there nations? What do “the bedbugs/sisterhood” and the “brotherhood” contribute to Noxian society? I could ask questions like this for hours but it would become redundant at some point. I love sexy scenes just as much at the next person but I just feel some things are in desperate need of explanation and I’m stoked for if/ when that time comes.
Probably not in any great detail, I’m afraid. I’m just not that great at thinking up an entire functional society. You might get bits and pieces here and there, but I have no clue as to the whole. I consider Nox to be… hmmm… sort of like the Lunarian race from Final Fantasy IV. You only meet two members of the race in that game (FuSoYa and Zemus/Zeromus), the rest are sleeping and you never really discover anything concrete about their ancient race, except what pertains directly to the story at hand.
Basically, I just make things up as I go along when it comes to Nox culture. The only thing I know for sure about it, is where it is physically located (in this specific cartoon reality, anyway!) and what is it’s ultimate secret.
You know, this does provide an interesting opportunity. I’m sure that many of your readers have many theories and/or ideas about the noxian society and world that can possibly be harvested. Plus, doing so can solidify this comic as not just your story, but ours as a community. It would be a prideful feeling to know that an individual had a meaningful impact on a comic that they love. Plus, it can help you flesh out areas of the comic that you might be struggling with. Who knows, pitching theories and questions around with the comments could provide good results.
Yeah, this is true… but I don’t really plan on stopping to talk about Nox society
If you do, I’m sure that we’d be glad to toss ideas around with you.
World building is a seriously difficult task. Only a very few do so before writing their story, even fewer manage to make it consistent, and maintain the consistently over time.
And a good story doesn’t really need a full blown world.
Didn’t you say that they steal alot of their clothing from humans?
There isn’t much in the stories, other than bits and pieces. Where they get food is a seriously unanswered question, other than noting that they really like sweets. Which isn’t that different from us.
I know that you have answered this, but is there going to be a graphic novel for purchase any time soon?
Why would you think that Brandon’s answer will have changed snce he’s already finding that his schedule of a page per week is as much as he can manage and keep a full-time job and family committments?
Nope! unlikely, considering the story isn’t finished yet!
Personally Brandon, I like the wall you just threw up between Shadow and Tim Friendship is one thing, but breaking that barrier and moving to the next level can be either very cautious or ‘to hell with it, we’re doing this!’. Your call!
We already know the love is there, but that next leap has got to be a scary first step for both of them.
The species difference, no matter the personal feelings, has to present at least medical fears just so they don’t kill each other with germs and bacteria!
Regardless, still looking forward to seeing them find each other, and see mom and dad approving of it (errr, would a parent approve at their age?). Alas, they may even be of help considering the situation they have already experienced.
Anyhow, thanks for the great work so far! This is fun!
Hmmm… “say it” – You are still just a young girl ;O)
Not on the physical evidence!
Brandon has already explained elsewhere that both Tim and Shadow are around eighteen, Shadow a few months older than Tim. Only the more repressive cultures would consider that to be “TOO young” for sexual freedom.
LOL – not for a teenager or for Tim, with No experience… :O)
Then it is a Very normal way to say “I am afraid”
Tim is in real trouble especially if Midnight gets a hold of him because she warned him not to hurt Shadow and it looks like he’s about to or just did!
Brandon what inspired you to do comics and right stories?
I’ve had this question asked several times, and…. there just isn’t really a specific answer. I’ve always drawn as far back as I can remember, so who knows what inspired me in the first place to pic up a pencil. I dunno. And, I just always wanted to create my own stories.
Oh c’mon Tim, guy had a good thing going there
An American citizen!
Man that leap with quality of drawing it’s completely different! Amazing! I love the story, plot and everything!
i do not know why, but i think i now know where will he’ve got that scar on his back he had at the beggining of the comic, and it won’t be from anything sexual like i first thought xD